Apply knowledge through discover, synthesis, and integration for the betterment of their organization or society at large.

These objectives are published in the university’s catalog and on the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering website.

Student Outcomes. Student outcomes are statements of the expectations for the knowledge and skills that students should possess when they graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Graduates of the program must demonstrate the following:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.

An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.

An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.

An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

An ability to communicate effectively.

The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.

A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.

A knowledge of contemporary issues.

An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

The Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditatioin Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Program Overview. Modern industrial engineering is a combination of basic engineering knowledge and quantitative analysis techniques to support managerial decision making. Industrial engineers use the information and techniques from physical, mathematical, biological, behavioral, and engineering sciences to plan, control, design, and manage complex organizations and systems. Just as the other branches of engineering use the laws of physical sciences in designing and operating a product, industrial engineering applies these same laws to designing and operating systems in which these products are produced or in which services are provided. The major distinction between industrial engineering and other branches of engineering is that the industrial engineer must consider not only the behavior of inanimate objects, as they are governed by physical laws, but also the behavior of people as they interface with inanimate objects and as they operate together in organizations, whether these organizations be simple or complex.

The curriculum provides students with an opportunity to apply their engineering, mathematical, and science knowledge to design systems (production or processes) and solve engineering problems. Students learn to function on teams, communicate effectively, design and conduct experiments, and utilize current engineering tools. Students gain an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities as they examine contemporary issues and the impact of engineering solutions in the global workplace. Perhaps most importantly, students learn to learn so that they can continue to update their industrial engineering skills throughout their careers.

The curriculum is continually evaluated by faculty, students, alumni, and industry to provide a contemporary industrial engineering program that meets the needs of customers. A variety of assessment tools are utilized in the evaluation process. Program changes are implemented on an ongoing basis.

Undergraduate Program

General Standards and Requirements. Admission requirements and academic standards for the Department of Industrial Engineering are consistent with the dynamic enrollment plan for the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering. Refer to the introduction to the Whitacre College of Engineering section of this catalog for a description of the criteria for initial admission to the Whitacre College of Engineering and the lower-division foundational curriculum. The recommended foundational curriculum for industrial engineering consists of ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302; MATH 1451, MATH 1452; CHEM 1307/CHEM 1107; PHYS 1408; ENGR 1315; or IE 1385.

A student may apply for admission to the upper division of a degree program upon completion of the foundational curriculum and a minimum of 12 credit hours of Texas Tech coursework. The acceptance criterion is based exclusively on a cumulative GPA for coursework completed at Texas Tech. The specific GPA standard varies among the degree programs and may change from one academic year to the next as necessary to align enrollments with the educational resources. For students who entered Texas Tech prior to June 1, 2012, a minimum 2.0 GPA is required for admission to the industrial engineering upper-division degree program. Students entering Texas Tech after June 1, 2012, must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

The academic standards required by the Whitacre College of Engineering and the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering are given in the introduction to the Whitacre College section of the catalog and summarized below. Exceptions to these standards are at the discretion of the dean of the Whitacre College of Engineering.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in an engineering degree plan.

A grade of C or better must be achieved in all prerequisites before the subsequent course may be attempted.

A minimum 2.5 GPA is required to maintain academic good standing and continued membership in the Whitacre College of Engineering.

A full-time student must achieve a C or better in 18 credit hours of coursework in the degree plan in each 12-month period.

An engineering course may be repeated only one time after a course drop, withdrawal, or failure to achieve a C or higher. A maximum of three engineering courses may be repeated.

Students entering the industrial engineering program are assigned a faculty advisor and are responsible for arranging a course of study with the advisor’s counsel and approval. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive education in industrial engineering and to develop effective engineers by balancing the breadth and depth of instruction.
A minimum of 130 hours is required for graduation. The courses are offered so that progress through the program is efficient and flexible to accommodate the needs of individual students. A faculty advisor assists each student with his or her individual program on a semester-by-semester basis.

The department follows the general standards and requirements of the Whitacre College of Engineering. Any student requesting an exception must submit a written request and any supporting documentation to the Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for its approval.

Graduate Program

For information on graduate programs offered by the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering, visit the Graduate School section of the catalog.